47 replies to this topic

[Jill]

I believe they're probably using the word "professional" in the common sense of the word, i.e., one who gets paid in exchange for their work.

Just as you can have professional call-girls, who may be breaking the law, they are still professional because they take money for their services.

According to dictionary.com, all of the following are definitions of "professional":

pro·fes·sion·al    ( P )  Pronunciation Key  (pr-fsh-nl)
adj.

1. a. Of, relating to, engaged in, or suitable for a profession: lawyers,  doctors, and other professional people.
    b. Conforming to the standards of a profession: professional behavior.
2.  Engaging in a given activity as a source of livelihood or as a career: a professional writer.
3. Performed by persons receiving pay: professional football.
4. Having or showing great skill; expert: a professional repair job.

n.
1. A person following a profession, especially a learned profession.
2. One who earns a living in a given or implied occupation: hired a professional to decorate the house.
3. A skilled practitioner; an expert.

It seems that the P in SEMPO could stand for a number of those definitions, although not the adj. 1.b.

To fall in line with a definition, does a word have to meet all aspects of it's definition? I don't think so. Generally if it meets one of the criteria for the definition, it fits.

Looks to me like SEMPO can feel free to keep their "P" if they like, whether or not they put up the disclaimer Bob outlined.

That said, I think they should put up that disclaimer. And I'm also glad that Barry has joined! I'm sure he will have much to contribute. SEMPO is looking better and better all the time.

See, Chris, you might not even need to gag me at their next meeting!

Jill

[Jill]

Search Engine Marketing Professional Organization founded to promote search engine marketing services.

A SEMPO press release for your reading pleasure!

Jill

[Matt B]

Chris, I have to commend you - You've been super. Especially after all the crap we've served you, you have really earned my respect. I think SEMPO is very lucky to have you and I hope they realize what an asset you are to them.

[Jill]

Yep, I totally agree with Matt.

He's referring to the dinner we all had together in San Jose, where we literally had Chris on the hotseat (wasn't it while we were eating that spicy Thai food...or was it the spicy Mexican food?).

Matt and I both were giving Chris the 3rd degree, and she took it with her usual good nature! (I heard that Barb had to jump in the pool with her clothes on just to get away from Matt's SEMPO questions!)

SEMPO is definitely lucky to have Christine Churchill on their side!

Jill

[HorseCove]

Ahhh, you guys are making me blush.

I do have some good news to tell you. The SEMPO Board was extremely receptive to adding a disclaimer to the SEMPO site. They thought it was a great idea.

There will be some wordsmithing - par for the course when you have a group of Type A personalities, but the core disclaimer message will be there.

I'll let you know when it goes live - probably within the next day or so.

If you have other concerns or questions, we are putting together a SEMPO FAQ and we can address common questions there. Feel free to send me your questions and I'll forward them to the right people.

Christine

[Jill]

Wow, nice going, Chris...and everyone!

See, everyone can make a difference and even take part, even if you're not a member -- yet!



J

[Bernard]

Jill, you can quibble semantics all you want. I believe the issue is much larger than how you or I perceive it.

As it stands, the only definition of the word Professional that relates to SEMPO is definition #3 in your list.

Will they will limit their self-promotion to just that narrow use of the word?
Will lay people reading about SEMPO in business/advertising media make that distinction?
Is it reasonable to expect lay people to understand that SEMPO's membership may not be professional in any other sense of the word?

Do you not see the potential danger in what I am saying?

As I understand it, SEMPO is aiming to elevate search engine marketing to the point where it meets definition #1a for the lay person. I believe that SEMPO's credibility in working towards this goal will be seriously comprimised if they do not address the issue of membership endorsements since they are unwilling to qualify the membership itself.

I think I have said my piece on this topic. (where is the "leaving the soapbox" smilie?)

[Scottie]

LOL- poor Chris.

It was the Irish pub after Mexican food. Quite a spirited argument and basically was 7 against 1 and Chris held her own.

Not only that, Chris left the festivities early at the Google dance to put in more work on SEMPO's behalf and came late/left early on several other occasions to make sure everything was ready for the kickoff.

SEMPO is very lucky to have Chris!

[Bernard]

Christine posted while I was composing the previous message. Have a great day.

[Scottie]

Will they will limit their self-promotion to just that narrow use of the word?
Will lay people reading about SEMPO in business/advertising media make that distinction?
Is it reasonable to expect lay people to understand that SEMPO's membership may not be professional in any other sense of the word?

Bernard,

When I tell you there were 7 of us giving Chris a hard time in the pub, we were addressing issues like the ones you are bringing up.

I just don't know if there is an official answer to those yet.

Any SEO who joins SEMPO to a certain extent ties their reputation to SEMPO's rep as well.

If I hire someone who screws up my site and does rampant e-mail spamming who is a member of SEMPO, I might specifically look for someone who is NOT a member of SEMPO to clean it up.

I don't think there is any industry trade organization out there that wants rogue members tarnishing their good name. The issue in the world of SEO is that there is not an official list of right and wrong. Each of us has our own idea of what the standards should be... some are more lenient than others.

I agree that SEMPO should be the ones to put at least some loose guidelines down... I'm just not sure they are ready for that yet. But if more potential members like you continue to push the request, I think it will happen.

[Jill]

It was the Irish pub after Mexican food. Quite a spirited argument and basically was 7 against 1 and Chris held her own.

Ah yes...that's right. And no matter how hard we tried, we couldn't even get her to cry!

Truly, however, I don't think SEMPO has all the answers to all the questions yet. It's just the beginning. Where they end up, nobody knows. I'll be watching from the sidelines, for now because I still don't get why we even need an organization.

I believe that my newsletter and this forum are already doing a great job of educating the public about SEO. And so is Danny, his newsletter, his site and his conferences. (Plus lots of other sites, which I don't always agree with.) Is it enough? Maybe, maybe not.

Jill

[qwerty]

Somehow I failed to receive an email that this thread had been updated, so I had to read about Christine's announcement elsewhere. This is very positive news.

I'm still not convinced that the world needs SEMPO, but I do understand that their raison d'etre is kind of different from everything else that's out there. They exist to market SEO/SEM to marketers, and get them to increase the portion of their budgets that are marked for us. Ok by me. How do I personally benefit from that? I'm not sure yet. I don't think any of my clients actually have marketing departments

But I'll be watching too.

[HorseCove]

Oh you guys are too much. Any more endorsements and I’ll run for Governor of California. I hear they need a few more candidates.

The disclaimer is finally live – it’s on the SEMPO home page, lower part of the middle column.

Thanks for the input.

Christine

[Scottie]

LOL- I'll vote for you! You'd be better than those other goofballs running...

That was quick work! Nice to see how responsive the group can be.

[qwerty]

"Finally live"? That was fast, Christine. And I like the way it's worded. No complaints here